Folding box construction



April 18, 1967 s. CONESCU 3,314,589 FOLDING BOX CONSTRUCTION Filed Sept. 27, 1965 INVENTOR. Sidney Coanescu AT TO RNEY y dm United States Patent 3,314,589 FOLDING BOX CONSTRUCTION Sidney Conescu, 188 Beach 147th St, Neponsit, N.Y. 11436 Filed Sept. 27, 1965, Ser. No. 490,263 8 Claims. (Cl. 22931) This invention relates in general to a folding box construction, and more specifically to a box construction and a blank from which the same is formed which is adapted to be folded between a preformed, knock down position and a permanent set-up position.

This invention relates in general to an improvement of my US. Letters Patent, No. 2,777,628. It has been noted after actual use that it is frequently desirable that the boxes of the type disclosed in my Patent No. 2,777,628 be permanently set in the erected position thereof so that once set up they would retain the set up position. However, the difficulty encountered was the means as to how such a collapsible box could be made to function as a positive set up box once the same has been erected, and yet maintain the ease of erection and to accomplish the same with existing machinery.

An object of this invention is to provide an improved card-board folding box and blank construction which can be readily set up between a pre-f-ormed knock down position and a permanent upright set up position.

Another object of this invention is to provide a folding box construction which is partially erected to a preformed knock down position in which the opposed side panels of the box are disposed in overlying relationship with respect to the base panel and the connected end panels in such a manner that the respective side and end panels of the box construction can be readily uprighted to an erected set up position and permanently secured in the erected position.

In accordance with this invention, the foregoing objects are attained by a box construction comprising of a blank of foldable material having a base panel and hingedly connected side and end panels. The side and end panels have their adjacent end portions interconnected by a corner flap which is adapted to reversely fold in the set up position of the box so that it lies against the adjacent end panel. A locking flap extends along the edge of each end panel whereby the locking flap is adapted to reversely fold so as to overlap the adjacent end panel. Means are provided to secure the center portion of the respective locking flaps to the underlying end panel in a collapsed or knock down position of the box. Bach locking flap. is provided with folding slits which extend beyond the center or secured portion thereof. The outer end portions of the lock flaps beyond the slits overlie the corner flap in the collapsed position of the box. Accordingly, a layer of pressure sensitive adhesive coats the surface of outer end portionsof the respective locking flap contacting the adjacent corner flap in the col lapsed position of the box. Also the respective corner flaps have a portion thereof coated with a layer of similar pressure sensitive adhesive on the surface thereof which contacts with the underlying end panel in the collapsed position. The arrangement is such that in the set up position of the box, the coated outer end portions of locking flaps are disposed into intimate contact with the coated portion of the adjacent corner flap so that the respective coated portion will adhere to one another, and thus maintain the box in a permanently set up position.

A feature of this invention resides in a collapsible box construction arranged so that the same can be adhesively secured to permanently set up the box in a relatively simple and expedient manner.

Another feature resides in the provision of a collapsible box having self adhering means which will permanently adhere to one another only in the set up position of the box.

Other objects and features and advantages will become more readily apparent when considered in view of the specification and drawings in which,

FIGURE 1 is a plan view of a blank construction for which the improved folding box construction is formed.

FIGURE 2 is a plan View showing the blank preformed into its knock down or collapsed position.

FIGURE 3 is an enlarged detail showing of the corner construction shown in the knockdown position of the box.

FIGURE 4 illustrates the box constnuction illustrated in its permanently set up position.

FIGURE 5 is a fragmentary view to illustrate how the respective corners of the box construction break as the box is folded from its initial knock down position to the erected set up position.

Referring to the drawings, there is shown in FIG. 1 the blank construction 10 from which the box 11 of the present invention is formed. The blank 10 comprises a sheet of foldable material e.g. cardboard or the like and is formed with a pair of opposed longitudinally extending foldlines F1, F2 and transversely extending foldlines F3, F4 which intersect to define a central base panel 12, opposed side panels 13, 14 and end panels 15, 16, the side and end panels being 'hingedly connected about the central panel along the respective transversely and longitudinally extending foldlines F1, F2, F3, F4. At the intersection of the longitudinally and transversely extending foldlines there are defined corner flaps 17 which are interconnected to and between the adjacent end portions of the adjacent side and end panels. Each of the respective corner flaps 17 is provided with a substantially diagonal foldline F5 to define a side corner flap portion 17A and an end corner flap portion 17B, each being hingedly connected along the foldlines to the adjacent ends of the respective side and end panels. As shown, the side corner fiap portions 17A are arcuately shaped at 13 and the diagonal corner flaps foldlines F5 extend from the inner edge of the arcuate shape 18 and the intersection of the respective foldlines. As will be hereinafter noted,

the arcu ate shape of the flap at 18 facilitates tucking the same under the lock flap in setting up the box. Accordingly, the locking flaps 19 are hingeclly connected about foldlines F6 to the outer edge of each end panel 15, 16. In the illustrated form of the invention, an S shaped slit or incision 2G is formed adjacent the opposed outer end portions of the respective locking flaps 19. It will be noted that the axial line of the respective S shaped incisions 20 are angularly directed to diverge toward the respective foldlines.

As best seen in FIG. 1, the central portion 19A extending between the S shaped slits 20 of the locking flaps is coated on the inside surface of the blank with an adhesive 21 which in the knock down position of the blank secures the central portion 19A of the locking flap in overlying relationship to the adjacent end panel as best seen in FIG. 2. If desired, the lock panel 19 may be secured to the underlying end panel by other suitable fastening means, e.g. staples and the like.

The end corner flap portions 17B of the respective corner flaps may be also coated with a suitable adhesive 22 or otherwise secured to the underlying end panel in the pro-formed, knock down position of the box.

In accordance with this invention, the outer end portions 19B of the respective locking flaps 19, extending beyond the slits 20 formed therein, overlie the folded corner flaps 17. Also the extended end portions 19B are coated with a pressure sensitive adhesive 23 of the type which will only adhere to a surface which is only coated with a similar pressure sensitive adhesive. Thus in the knock down position, the end portions 19B of the locking flap 19 will not adhere to the underlying corner flaps 19 because the surface thereof contiguous to the coated portion of the lock flap is free of any adhesive.

As seen in FIGS. 1 and 2, the side corner flap portion 17A of each corner flap 17 is also provided with a layer of pressure sensitive adhesive 24 of the type coating the outer ends 19B of the locking flaps 19. Accordingly, this coated portion 17A of the corner flap 17 will not adhere to the underlying end panel in the collapsed position of the box.

The blank construction of FIG. 1 pre-folded to the initial knock down position of FIG. 2 by folding the respective side panels 13, 14 and connected corner flap 17 into overlying relationship onto the central base panel and end panels, respectively. As best seen in FIG. 2, the end corner flap portions 17B of the respective corner flaps are permanently secured to the underlying end portions of the adjacent end panel. The side corner flap portion 17A, because they are coated with a pressure sensitive adhesive, which Will adhere only to the surface coated with a similar adhesive, is not adhesively secured to the underlying end panel because this portion of the end panel is not coated with a similar adhesive.

The locking flaps 19 in the collapsed position are reversely folded onto the respective adjacent end panels so that the central portion 19A thereof is permanently secured to the underlying end panel. The outer end portions 19B of the respective locking flaps 19, which are coated with a pressure sensitive adhesive 23, are disposed in contiguous relationship to the outer uncoated surface of the underlying corner flaps 17 and accordingly will not normally adhere thereto. Thus, it will be noted that the locking flaps 19 secured to the end panels and the end corner flap portions 17B of the respective corner flaps 17 connected to the underlying end panels maintain the blank in the pre-folded, knock down or collapsed position.

In operation, the box 11 is permanently set into its upright position simply by lifting the edges of the side panels 13, 14 off the central panel. This movement will simultaneously lift the unsecured outer ends 19B of the locking flaps 19 so that the corner flaps 17 in folding along their respective foldlines F5 will tuck under the ends 19B of the locking flaps 19. In doing so, the end panels 15, 16 will right themselves. Accordingly, in the erected position the coated portions 19B of the locking flaps are disposed in contiguous adhering relationship with the coated portions of the side corner flap portions 17A causing the lock flaps 19 to be permanently bonded to the side corner forming flap portions 17A when a pressure is applied thereto. The arcuate edge 18 of the side corner flap 17 facilitates in directing the tucking of the side corner flap portion 17A beneath the end portions 19B of the locking fiaps 19. Thus the respective end corner flap portions 17B are reversely folded about their respective diagonal foldlines F5 so that reversely folded corner flap 17 is arranged to lie in the set up condition against the adjacent end panel of the box.

The slits 20 diverging inwardly, as described, minimizes the spreading of the lock flap ends 19B thereby minimizing the stress on the medially secured central portion 19A of the locking flaps 19. This enables the use of glue for connecting the locking flap to the adjacent end panel. Accordingly, it is to be noted that a folding box construction of the type described can be quickly set up between a pre-formed collapsed position to a permanently bonded set up position. Thus, utilizing self adhering pressure sensitive means 23, 24 disposed so as to render the box components of same non-adhering in the knock down position thereof, and which will be operatively secured to one another in the set up position to permanently set up the box in the erected position thereof.

While the box construction has been described with respect to a particular embodiment thereof, it will be readily understood and appreciated that variations and modifications may be made without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention.

What is claimed is:

1. In a folding box having a base panel and hingedly connected side and end panels, said side and end panels having their adjacent end portions interconnected by a diagonally folding corner flap which is reversely folded in the set up position of the box to lie against one of said panels connected thereto, said last mentioned panel having a locking flap defined by a foldline extending along the edge of said one panel, said locking flap being reversely folded about said foldline to overlap said one panel, and means for adhesively securing the center portion of said locking flap to said one panel in a pro-folded collapsed position of said box, the improvement wherein said locking flap is provided with folding slits extending beyond the center portion thereof and disposed intermediate the Width of said flaps, said flaps having outer edge portions which overlie said corner flap in the prefolded position of the box, a layer of pressure sensitive adhesive on the surface of said outer edge portion of said locking flap contacting said corner flap in the prefolded position of said box, and said corner flap having a diagonal portion thereof coated with a layer of pressure sensitive adhesive on the surface thereof adapted to contact with said base panel in the pre-folded collapsed position of said box so that in the set up position of said box the coated outer end portion of said locking flaps is disposed in intimate contact with the coated portion of said adjacent corner flap to form a positive bond therebetween in the set up position of said box.

2. A box construction adapted to fold between a knock down position and a permanent set-up position comprising,

(a) a blank of foldable sheet material having a base panel and opposed side and end panels hingedly connected to said base panel,

(b) a corner flap interconnected to and between the ends of adjacent side and end panels,

(0) each of said corner flaps having a foldline about which each of said corner flaps is reversely folded in the set up position of said box so as to lie against the end panels,

((1) said side panels and corner flaps connected to the opposed ends thereof being disposed to overlie the adjacent marginal portion of said base panel in the knock down position of said box,

(e) means for positively securing a portion of each corner flap to the underlying end portion of the adjacent end panel in the collapsed position of said blank,

(If) and a lock flap hingedly connected along the outer longitudinal edge of each end panel whereby said lock flap is reversely folded to overlie the adjacent end panel,

(g) means for securing the central portion of the re spective locking flaps to the adjacent underlying end panel whereby the outer end portions of said locking flap overlie the adjacent corner flap in the knock down position of said box,

(h) a layer of pressure sensitive adhesive on the opposed end portions of said lock flaps in contact with said corner flaps in the collapsed position of the box.

(i) and a layer of pressure sensitive adhesive coating the other portion of said corner flap in contact with underlying end panels in the knock down position of the box so that in the set up position of said box the coated end portions of said locking flap are disposed in contacting relationship with the coated portions of said corner flaps to positively secure said end and side panels in the upright position.

3. The invention as defined in claim 2 wherein each of said locking flaps is adhesively secured to the adjacent underlying end panel and each locking flap is formed with a slit therein, each of said slits extending between the adhesively secured central portion of said lock flaps and the coated end portions thereof to facilitate tucking of said corner flaps under said adjacent locking flaps in the set up position of said box.

4. A box construction adapted to fold between a knock down position and a permanent set up position comprising,

(a) a single blank of foldable sheet material having longitudinally and transversely extending foldlines adjacent the opposed side and ends of said blank to define a base panel and higedly connected opposed side and end panels,

(b) a corner flap hingedly interconnected to and between the adjacent ends of said side and end panels,

(c) each of said corner flaps having a diagonal foldline about which each of said corner flaps is reversely folded in the set up position of said box,

((1) said side panels and corner flaps connected to the opposed ends thereof being reversely folded to overlie the adjacent marginal portion of said base panel in the knock down position of said box,

(e) means for adhesively securing the outermost diagonal portion of each corner flap to the underlying end panel in the pre-folded position of said blank,

(f) and a lock flap hingedly connected along a foldline extending along the outer longitudinal edge of said end panel about which said lock flap is reversely folded to overlie the adjacent end panel, said lock flap being substantially coextensive in length with adjacent end panel,

(g) means for scuring the central portion of the respective locking flaps to the adjacent underlying end panel in the knock down position of said box whereby the outer end portion of the respective locking flaps overlie the corner flaps in the collapsed position of said box,

(h) a layer of pressure sensitive adhesive coating the outer end portion of said lock flaps ioverlying said corner flaps whereby said layer of adhesive is disposed contiguous to said corner flaps in the knock down position of said box,

(i) and said other portion of the respective corner flaps having a layer of pressure sensitive adhesive coating the surface thereof in contact with underlying end panels in the knock down position of the box so that in the set up position of said box the coated end portions of said locking flap and the coated portions of said corner flaps are disposed into contiguous contacting relationship to form a permanent bond therebetween to permanently secure said end and side panels in the set up position of said box.

5. A blank construction comprising,

(a) a single sheet of foldable material having transversely and longitudinally extending foldlines extending parallel to the opposed sides and ends of said blank to define a base panel and opposed side and end panels,

(b) a corner flap connected to and between the adja cent ends of adjacent side and end panels,

(c) each of said corner flaps having a diagonal foldline about which said corner flap is reversely folded in the set up position of said blank, said diagonal foldline dividing said corner flap into a side corner flap portion and an end corner flap portion,

(d) a layer of adhesive applied to the inside surface of the respective end corner flap portions of said corner flaps,

(e) and a layer of pressure sensitive adhesive applied to the inside surface of said side corner flap portions of said corner flaps,

(f) and a locking flap hingedly connected to the outer edge portion of said end panels,

(g) said locking flap being co-extensive in length with respect to its adjacent end panel,

(h) each of said locking flaps having a slit adjacent the outer end portion thereof,

(i) a layer of adhesive coating the central portion of said locking flap on the inside surface thereof,

(j) and a coating of pressure sensitive adhesive covering the opposed outer end portions of said locking flaps.

6. The invention as defined in claim 5 wherein the coating of pressure sensitive adhesive covering the inside surface of said side corner flap portions and the outer end portions of said lock flaps is of the type which will adhere only to itself.

7. A blank construction comprising,

(a) a sheet of foldable material having transversely and longitudinally extending foldlines extending parallel to the opposed sides and ends of said blank to define a base panel and opposed side and end panels,

(b) a corner flap connected to and between the adjacent ends of adjacent side and end panels,

(c) each of said corner flaps having a foldline about which said corner flap is reversely folded in the set up position of said blank, said corner flap foldlines dividing said corner flap into a side corner flap portion and an end corner flap portion,

(d) means adapted to secure the respective end corner flap portions of each corner flap to its adjacent end portion of said end panels,

(e) and a coating of pressure sensitive adhesive applied to the inside surface of said side corner flaps portions of each corner flap,

(f) and a locking flap hingedly connected to the outer edge portion of said end panels,

(g) a means for securing the central portion of said locking flap to the adjacent end panel,

(h) and a coating of pressure sensitive adhesive covering the surface of the opposed outer end portions of said locking flaps contiguous to the adjacent end panel.

8. A box construction adapted to be folded between a pre-formed knock down position and a permanent set up position comprising,

(a) a blank of foldable sheet material,

(b) said blank having opposed longitudinally and transversely extending foldlines which intersect to define a central base panel and opposed marginal side and end panels adapted to be folded about their respective foldlines,

(c) a corner flap interconnected between the adjacent ends portions of adjacent side and end panels,

((1) each of said corner flaps having a diagonal foldline to define a side corner flap portion and an end corner flap portion,

(e) said opposed side panels and connected corner flaps being adapted to be reversely folded about their respective foldlines in the preformed! knock down position of said box whereby said side panels overlie said base panel and the connected corner flaps overlie said end panels,

(f) means for securing the end corner flap portions of said corner flaps to the underlying end panel in the knock down position of said box,

(g) a locking flap hingedly connected about a foldline to each of said end panels whereby said locking flap is reversely folded to overlie its respective end panel,

(h) means for securing the central portion only of said locking flaps to the adjacent end panel,

(i) means defining a slit formed adjacent the respective end portion of said locking flap to facilitate bending the unfastened end portions of said locking flap along a predetermined axis,

7 8 (j) a layer of pressure sensitive adhesive coating the References Cited by the Examiner surface of said unfastened end portions contiguous UNITED STATES PATENTS to the corner flaps 1n the knock down positlon of Said box, 2,097,708 11/1937 TIOSt 229-31 (k) and a layer of pressure sensitive adhesive coating 5 2327383 12/1940 Snyder the surface of said side corner flap portion con- 2,414,854 1/1947 Conescu 229-31 tiguous to the underlying end panel so that in the 2,777,628 1/1957 conesFu 229 31 set up position of said box said layer of pressure 219321439 4/1960 Spauhng 229 31 3,091,381 5/1963 Conescu 229-31 sensitive adhesive on said locking flap and corner flap are disposed in contiguous relationship so as to adhere to one another to positively maintain said 10 JOSEPH LECLAIR P'lmary Exammer box in its set up position. D. T. MOORHEAD, Assistant Examiner. 

1. IN A FOLDING BOX HAVING A BASE PANEL AND HINGEDLY CONNECTED SIDE AND END PANELS, SAID SIDE AND END PANELS HAVING THEIR ADJACENT END PORTIONS INTERCONNECTED BY A DIAGONALLY FOLDING CORNER FLAP WHICH IS REVERSELY FOLDED IN THE SET UP POSITION OF THE BOX TO LIE AGAINST ONE OF SAID PANELS CONNECTED THERETO, SAID LAST MENTIONED PANEL HAVING A LOCKING FLAP DEFINED BY A FOLDLINE EXTENDING ALONG THE EDGE OF SAID ONE PANEL, SAID LOCKING FLAP BEING REVERSELY FOLDED ABOUT SAID FOLDLINE TO OVERLAP SAID ONE PANEL, AND MEANS FOR ADHESIVELY SECURING THE CENTER PORTION OF SAID LOCKING FLAP TO SAID ONE PANEL IN A PRE-FOLDED COLLAPSED POSITION OF SAID BOX, THE IMPROVEMENT WHEREIN SAID LOCKING FLAP IS PROVIDED WITH FOLDING SLITS EXTENDING BEYOND THE CENTER PORTION THEREOF AND DISPOSED INTERMEDIATE THE WIDTH OF SAID FLAPS, SAID FLAPS HAVING OUTER EDGE PORTIONS WHICH OVERLIE SAID CORNER FLAP IN THE PREFOLDED POSITION OF THE BOX, A LAYER OF PRESSURE SENSITIVE ADHESIVE ON THE SURFACE OF SAID OUTER EDGE PORTION OF SAID LOCKING FLAP CONTACTING SAID CORNER FLAP IN THE PREFOLDED POSITION OF SAID BOX, AND SAID CORNER FLAP HAVING A DIAGONAL PORTION THEREOF COATED WITH A LAYER OF PRESSURE SENSITIVE ADHESIVE ON THE SURFACE THEREOF ADAPTED TO CONTACT WITH SAID BASE PANEL IN THE PRE-FOLDED COLLAPSED POSITION OF SAID BOX SO THAT IN THE SET UP POSITION OF SAID BOX THE COATED OUTER END PORTION OF SAID LOCKING FLAPS IS DISPOSED IN INTIMATE CONTACT WITH THE COATED PORTION OF SAID ADJACENT CORNER FLAP TO FORM A POSITIVE BOND THEREBETWEEN IN THE SET UP POSITION OF SAID BOX. 